How to care for your skin if you have eczema
Many people with eczema know how difficult it can be to find the right skin care. The skin feels dry, tight or burning and reacts quickly to the wrong ingredients. Although eczema cannot be cured, you can often significantly alleviate the symptoms by taking care of your skin properly. In this blog you can read what you can do for eczema, what you should pay attention to and why hypoallergenic skin care is a wise choice.
What exactly is eczema?
Eczema is a chronic inflammatory reaction of the skin. The skin barrier is disrupted, causing the skin to lose moisture more quickly and become more sensitive to external stimuli. There are different forms, such as atopic eczema (often in children), contact eczema or seborrheic eczema. What they have in common: dry, itchy, red skin that sometimes flakes or cracks.
Eczema is present in varying degrees in many people. It can suddenly flare up during periods of stress, cold or exposure to irritating substances. Medicated creams, such as corticosteroids, are often prescribed to reduce inflammation. But even without medication, daily care plays a crucial role in limiting complaints.
Why is gentle skin care so important for eczema?
Skin with eczema is extra vulnerable. Ingredients that healthy skin may tolerate well can cause irritation or an allergic reaction. Think of perfume, alcohol, foaming agents or aggressive cleaners. That is why hypoallergenic skin care is often the best choice: products without unnecessary additives, specially developed for sensitive skin.
The goal of good care is to restore the skin barrier, retain moisture and reduce itching or flaking. The following applies: the simpler the product, the better. Fewer ingredients means less chance of a reaction. In short, this is the ideal care routine for someone with eczema:
- Clean gently (no soap, no perfume, no alcohol).
- Shower briefly and lukewarm: and prefer to use an oil or shower gel without irritants.
- Hydrateer royaal: na elke douche of bad.
- Use neutral, hypoallergenic products: without fragrances or dyes.
- Pay attention to your scalp: there may also be eczema. Use a mild shampoo for this.
- If in doubt, always consult your doctor, especially if your complaints worsen or remain uncontrolled.
Facial cleansing for eczema
Just like you have to carefully choose which products you use with the rest of your body, this also applies to your face. Many standard face washes contain harsh ingredients such as alcohol or fragrances that can dry out the skin and worsen eczema. It is important to choose a facial cleanser that does not irritate sensitive skin.
It is preferable to use a soap-free, pH-neutral face wash without perfume. These cleansers are mild and help clean the skin without affecting your skin's natural barrier. It can also be nice to use a moisturizing facial cream after cleansing, specially developed for sensitive skin.
Showering and bathing with eczema-prone skin
Many people think that 'clean' means 'washing a lot', but with eczema, showering too often or too hot is actually disastrous. Water dries out the skin and soap not only removes dirt, but also the natural oil layer that your skin needs.
Tips for the shower:
- Douche niet te heet en niet te lang.
- Do not use regular soap, but one soap-free shower gel with mild cleansers.
- If necessary, use an oil product in the shower that immediately cares for the skin.
- After drying, gently pat your skin dry, do not rub!
Liever in bad?
Then choose an extra greasy bath oil. It mixes with the bath water and leaves a nourishing layer on the skin after bathing. Avoid foaming or perfumed bath products. Your scalp also deserves attention. A mild, pH skin neutral shampoo such as the Hypogeen Shampoo without harsh foaming agents, such as cocamidopropyl betaine, can help not to further irritate the sensitive skin of your head.
After showering: rub, rub, rub
De beste verzorging voor een eczeemgevoelige huid begint eigenlijk ná het douchen. Zodra je huid droog is, smeer je deze royaal in met een vette zalf of huidolie. Dit helpt om vocht vast te houden en beschermt tegen invloeden van buitenaf. Wat kun je gebruiken?
- Body cream with urea (e.g. 5%) for a less greasy but well hydrating care.
- Neutral day and night cream without perfume for the face.
- Products with ingredients such as glycerin, urea or apricot kernel oil help retain moisture and soften the skin.
Make sure it is a product that you like. Only then do you use it often enough and regular application is essential for eczema, even if the skin seems calm at that moment.
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